Soccer <\/p>\n
Another month of the MLS season is in the books, another update for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP Power Rankings.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
At the halfway point, there\u2019s plenty of shuffling. Only one player remains in my top five from April<\/a>!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Six goals in May and leading the league with 13 overall\u2026 Baribo<\/a> remains red-hot for the Union<\/a>. He\u2019s on track for 25+ goals, which would be the most by a Golden Boot presented by Audi winner since Carlos Vela\u2019s incredible 34 in 2019!<\/p>\n Baribo is clinical in front of goal and a huge reason why Philadelphia lead the Supporters\u2019 Shield race halfway through the season. He doesn\u2019t necessarily score the flashiest goals, but shows up in the right place at the right time over and over again.<\/p>\n Quick note: We last saw a Golden Boot-MVP double-winner in 2022 with Hany Mukhtar<\/a> at Nashville SC<\/a>. Maybe Baribo can change that this season?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of Mukhtar\u2026 he\u2019s heating up for one of the league\u2019s most in-form teams. He\u2019s up to seven goals and six assists, putting him well on pace to bounce back from last year\u2019s \u201cdown\u201d campaign.<\/p>\n So much of Nashville\u2019s success centers around how Mukhtar and Sam Surridge<\/a> link up in the final third. B.J. Callaghan deserves a ton of credit for getting them on the same page after some missteps.<\/p>\n Mukhtar has another level or two to reach, which should scare opponents when thinking about their trophy chances this season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Dreyer<\/a> might be the midseason favorite for Newcomer of the Year. Could he also take home an MVP award? I\u2019m certainly not counting him out.<\/p>\n San Diego<\/a>\u2019s Danish winger was incredible throughout May, posting eight goal contributions (3g\/5a) as his team stayed hot on Vancouver<\/a>\u2019s tail for first place in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n As much attention as Chucky Lozano<\/a> gets, Dreyer is just as crucial for SDFC\u2019s success. What a signing by the expansion team.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Evander<\/a> is the only holdover from my MVP Power Rankings last month<\/a>. That\u2019s how highly I rate him, even as Cincy<\/a> navigate a lull in form.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Brazilian midfielder remains a magician on the ball, dictating the attack by speeding the game up or slowing it down. Long-range shots, decisive through-balls, dribbling out of traffic\u2026 he does it all.<\/p>\n Also, I keep thinking about how Evander\u2019s not even at his peak yet. As he and K\u00e9vin Denkey<\/a> keep forming a connection on the field, they\u2019ll carry this team far.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n How quickly things can change. I didn\u2019t even have Messi<\/a> in my top-five MVP rankings last month\u2026 and now he\u2019s leading the way!<\/p>\n